If you plan to cut a Christmas tree in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest this year, you may want to do it before snow blankets the high country.

Waiting too long to cut a tree there isn't wise because the roads are steep, narrow and unplowed, and because winter weather can worsen quickly, said Jim Franzel, district ranger for the Snoqualmie Ranger District.

Permits to cut trees in the national forest are on sale through Dec. 24 at the public service center in Glacier (360-599-2714) and the Mt. Baker Ranger Station in Sedro-Woolley (360-856-5700, ext. 515). For more details, call 425-783-6015 or see fs.usda.gov/mbs.

For people who want to cut a tree closer to home, here are local farms that offer Christmas trees.

Alpine Meadows Tree Farm

3585 Highway 9, Deming

360-595-1019, alpinemeadowstreefarm.com

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 22, 9 a.m. to dark, Monday through Saturday.

Trees: Nordmann, noble, grand, Fraser and Douglas firs, and kids' trees.

Extra: u-cut, pre-cut, potted trees, indoor sales, free coffee, hot chocolate and warm-up refreshments, cut-n-grow free seedlings (check the website), wreaths, garlands.

Bell Creek Christmas Tree Farm

5610 Mount Baker Highway, Deming

360-746-8100

Open: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, through Dec. 23, 9 a.m. to dusk, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Trees: Noble, grand and Fraser firs; cedars.

Extra: u-cut and we-cut, saws and rope available, help loading trees, garlands, free coffee and treats.

Carl's Choose-N-Cut

2220 Zell Road, Ferndale

360-384-0799; Facebook at Carl's Choose-n-Cut Tree Farm

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, dawn to dusk daily.

Trees: Douglas, grand and Nordmann firs.

Extra: Saws provided, self-serve.

Crabtree's Christmas Trees

329 W. Hemmi Road, Bellingham

360-393-2794

Open: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, to Dec. 22, noon to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday.

Trees: Canaan and Fraser firs; Serbian and Nordman spruce.

Extra: Saws provided, refreshments.

Fullner Christmas Tree Farm

3783 E. Hoff Road, Everson

360-592-5820

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to dark daily.

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand and concolor firs, Norway spruce and Colorado pine; precut Fraser and noble firs.

Extra: Saws, gift shop, complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, candy canes.

Kelly Road Christmas Tree Farm

1129 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham, (between Hannegan and Noon roads)

360-510-9198, kellyrdtreefarm.com

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Trees: U-cut or we-cut Noble, Fraser and grand firs.

Extra: Saws, kneeling mats, twine, healthy refreshments, gift shop, restrooms.

Manthey's Christmas Treeland

773 W. Axton Road, Bellingham

360-384-0522

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Trees: Douglas, noble, Nordmann, grand and Canaan firs, spruce and pine.

Extra: U-cut and precut, free cookies, candy canes, coffee, hot chocolate, spiced cider, saws, tree baling available, wreaths, crosses, swags, garlands.

Noon Road Trees

7188 Noon Road, Everson

360-354-8689, noonroadtrees.com

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, dawn to dusk daily.

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand, noble, Nordmann and Turkish firs; Colorado Blue, Norway and white spruce; Western white pine.

Extra: Help with cutting and loading, saws, tree-hauling carts, twine, candy canes.

Ol' Man Miller's

2570 Brown Road, Ferndale

360-384-5120

Open: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 8; starting Dec. 9, open daily through Dec. 24.

Trees: U-cut Nordmann and noble firs.

Extra: Saws.

Olason U-Cut Christmas Trees

4352 Sweet Road, Blaine

360-371-3315

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Trees: Noble, balsam, grand, Fraser, Canaan and Douglas firs.

Extra: Handsaws, wreaths, candy canes.

Red Mountain Tree Farm

6858 Mount Baker Highway, between Kendall and Maple Falls

360-599-1765

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to dusk daily.

Trees: Noble, Nordmann, grand, Fraser and Douglas firs; blue spruce, pine. U-cut, precut, potted.

Extra: Saws, twine, wreaths, garland, ornaments, lights, stands, candy canes, free baling and shaking.

River's Edge U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm

4773 Deming Road, Deming

360-592-5220, riveredgeucut.com

Open: Now through Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to dark daily.

Trees: U-cut noble, grand and Fraser firs; precut Douglas fir; live trees.

Extra: Garlands, wreaths, swags, holly, tree stands, tree waterers. Wagon rides to the field Dec. 3-4 and 10-11. Help hauling and loading trees; saws, twine, kneeling pads provided. Hot chocolate, coffee, hot cider. Free candy canes.

Robert's U-Cut

4200 Hoff Road, Bellingham

360-733-8304

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to dusk Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand and Nordmann firs.

Extra: Saws, kneepads, twine. Candy and hot cider.

Shady Pond Tree Farm

3289 H Street Road, Blaine

360-332-2489 or 360-303-0166

Open: Nov. 30 to Dec. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and by appointment.

Trees: U-cut and we-cut noble, Nordmann, grand, Douglas, balsam and Shasta firs; blue spruce.

Extra: Saws and shaker available, tree lot also at Pizza Factory parking lot in Blaine, 738 Peace Portal Drive.

Sisters Christmas Tree Farm

3771 Highway 9, Van Zandt, one mile south of Everybody's Store

360-592-5614 or 360-739-4651

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24).

Trees: U-cut and precut, noble, Fraser, Douglas and Nordmann firs, and spruce.

Extra: Apple cider, hot chocolate, cookies, portable toilet, saws, bale wrap. No-spray farm.

Small's Northwest Evergreens

6480 Northwest Road, Ferndale

393-9039; Facebook at Small's Northwest Evergreens

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 20, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand, noble, Nordmann and Fraser firs.

Extra: Wreaths, crosses, saws, free popcorn, cider, coffee, candy canes, gift shop. Ducks to feed.

Stoney Ridge Farm

2092 Van Dyk Road, Everson

360-966-3919, stoneyridgefarm.com

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

Trees: U-cut and we-cut Fraser, noble, Douglas, Nordmann and grand firs.

Extra: Saws, shaking and baling. Wreaths, garlands, pie shop, gift shop, live animal nativity. Free coffee and hot chocolate with tree purchase.

Tom's U-Cut Trees

4204 Hoff Road, Bellingham

360-756-9473

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to dusk Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand and Canaan firs.

Extra: Saws, kneepads, twine. Cookies and hot chocolate.

Triple E Farms

5607 Elder Road, Ferndale

360-380-4549

Open: Nov. 25 to Dec. 20, 3:15 p.m. to dusk Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to dusk Friday through Sunday.

Trees: U-cut Douglas, grand and noble firs.

Extra: Handsaws, candy canes.

ONLINE MAP

To see a searchable map of u-cut tree farms in Whatcom County, go to bellinghamherald.com/ucut.